THE ATENEO Women’s Table Tennis Team (AWTTT) continued their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 campaign with mixed results. The second day of competition was held earlier today, November 16, at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
Closing the afternoon with a 1-2 record, the Blue Eagles came away with a much-needed victory against the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, but succumbed to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws and De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Paddlers. These results drop Ateneo to fourth in the standings with a 3-3 win-loss record at the end of the first round.
8:00 AM match vs. AdU
Picking up where the squad left off, Andrea Deondo wasted no time in her dominant first singles outing. Deondo made quick work of Adamson’s Alyssa Toleco, sweeping her assignment, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6.
Although encountering an early 6-11 hiccup in the second singles, veteran Aubrey Solis disposed of her Lady Falcon adversary in four sets, taking down Khaz Saturno in the succeeding frames, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7.
Looking to wrap things up, the Atenean duo of Nicole Alemania and Co-Captain Celeen Docto came away with a 3-1 rout of Darlene Ayco and Wayne Cutab. Kickstarting their doubles play with 11-6 and 11-4 set victories, the Blue Eagles immediately recovered from a 9-11 stumble in the third set with an 11-8 clincher to seal the 3-0 victory for Ateneo.
10:30 AM match vs. FEU
Eager to dent FEU’s unblemished record, the AWTTT unleashed Deondo to clash against the Lady Tamaraw Christine Golez. Despite the Blue Eagle’s statement first set against Golez, 11-5, Deondo dropped three straight sets, 4-11, 8-11, 6-11, ultimately absorbing a 1-3 loss.
While highly motivated to even the score, Solis conceded three straight sets after failing to tame FEU’s Chrishien Santillan, 1-11, 9-11, 9-11.
Capping off the series against FEU, the Ateneo pairing of Docto and Alemania went head-to-head against Glieza Ampalid and Krisha Reyes. The Katipunan-based squad took command early in the game after claiming the first set, 11-5. However, the AWTTT lost their rhythm as they allowed FEU to take the driver’s seat in three consecutive sets, 8-11, 7-11, 11-13, consequently ending the series winless, 0-3.
1:30 PM match vs. DLSU
Playing her first match of the day, Co-Captain Jelaine Monteclaro donned the Blue and White against Lady Paddlers Angelou Laude. In a losing effort, Monteclaro endured a 0-3 sweep from Laude, 2-11, 7-11, 5-11.
Desperate to tie the series, Solis suited up against Kyla Bernaldez. Despite Solis’ early 2-0 set advantage, 11-8, 11-5, she eventually bowed down to Bernaldez, 2-3, after allowing her to claim the last three sets, 6-11, 3-11, 4-11.
Looking to end today’s games on a strong note, Alemania and Docto battled against Mariana Caoile and Lillian Ebora. While the Ateneo duo dropped their first set, 8-11, they managed to take a 2-1 lead after asserting dominance in the second and third sets, 15-13, 11-9. In spite of their obvious command in the game, the Blue Eagles failed to secure a team-tie win against DLSU, 0-3, after losing momentum in the last two sets, 5-11, 5-11.
The Blue Eagles hope to increase their consistency as they continue on the second half of their Season 88 campaign on Tuesday, November 16, in the same venue.
Women’s Standings (W-L):
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (6-0)
- UST Lady Paddlers (5-1)
- DLSU Lady Paddlers (4-2)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (3-3)
- AdU Lady Falcons (1-5)
- UE Lady Warriors (1-5)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-5)
